8th Air Force temporarily moves from Barksdale Air Force Base to Bossier City research park

Mario Villafuerte / The Times-PicayuneThe Cyber Innovation Center headquarters building under construction in Bossier City in October.

Louisiana congressional members say the Pentagon temporarily will move the 8th Air Force from Barksdale Air Force Base to a civilian research park in Bossier City while office space on base is renovated.

The Air Force will lease space at the state-of-the-art Cyber Innovation Center, which U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., says plays "an important role in the economy of Northwest Louisiana."

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., says the move makes logistical sense for the Air Force and fiscal sense for northern Louisiana. "Rather than have the 8th Air Force's personnel scattered in temporary facilities across Barksdale they will all be in one building," she says.

The 8th Air Force vacated its headquarters at Barksdale this summer. The base is being renovated to make way for the newly created Global Strike Command.